This Banana Pecan Cake is an epically moist, fluffy banana cake, loaded with pecan chips, and a sweet whipped cream cheese frosting generously spread on top.
For all my banana fans, which is my entire family, this Banana Pecan Cake recipe is for you!
It’s a from scratch recipe with a secret tip to keep it extra moist, while still being very easy to whip together.
With pecans and a few pinches of cinnamon, this Banana Pecan Cake is warm and comforting.
Serve it for dessert or with a cup of coffee for breakfast. Either way, it’s absolutely delicious!
Secret Tip To Keep Your Cake Moist
This cake has a secret. Can you guess what it may be?
You are probably thinking of an ingredient, but it’s actually all in the method!
This cake has two crazy ideas to keep it extra moist. First, you bake it at 275°F instead of the standard 350°F.
Secondly, as soon as a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, you pull it out and pop it into the freezer!
This stops the cake from continuing to bake as soon as you pull it out of the oven.
Cream Cheese Frosting
There are just four simple ingredients to create this epic cream cheese frosting: Butter, Cream Cheese, Vanilla Extract and Vanilla Extract.
I know some people get crazy and will add sour cream or heavy cream to their cream cheese frosting, but I am a purist.
For this Banana Pecan Cake, I wanted perfectly sweet whipped cream cheese frosting to spread on top.Spread it on generously on top and if you want, sprinkle it with extra chopped pecans.
Can I make this cake ahead? How do I store it?
You’ve got questions, I’ve got answers.
Yes, you can absolutely make this cake ahead for an event. I recommend making it within 24 hours for ultimate freshness.
And you will need to store the cake in the refrigerator, because of the cream cheese frosting.
About 30 to 45 minutes before you are ready to serve this cake, take it out from the fridge and let it sit at room temp.
This cake will have the perfect texture when it is slightly chilled or at room temperature!
If you are a banana fan, I know you are going to love this recipe for my favorite Banana Pecan Cake!
Banana Pecan Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mashed bananas
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice, or vinegar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoons salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup pecan chips, optional
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 12 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- top with pecans, if desired
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275°F. Grease a 9×13-inch pan; set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice; set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract, sour cream, and banana/lemon juice mixture.
- Beat in flour mixture alternately with milk, mixing until smooth. Fold in pecan chips, if desired.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. (In some ovens, this may take 10 minutes longer, watch closely!)
- Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes. This will stop the baking process and make cake very moist. It is not necessary, but recommend.
- For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter, and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Add powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth.
- Spread on top of cooled cake and sprinkle with additional pecans if desired.
Nutrition
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Can you make this without pecans
Of course!
perfect dessert for my last minute search, thank you
This needs to happen at my house very soon!!
This sounds divine! You have frosted that cake beautifully! Looking forward to trying this soon!
Bananas and pecans?! Sign me up! I can’t wait to give this a try; sounds so divine, indeed!
This looks incredible! Definitely going to pin this so I can make it for our next family BBQ!
This banana cake sounds heavenly and looks so tasty! I wish I had a piece right now.
Cream cheese frosting makes everything better! Banana cake sounds amazing!